Peaceful Sleep ?

Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing in their sleep for short periods of time. Some people begin to snore in their sleep, while others may startle awake from not being able to breathe. Most people will complain of feeling tired through the day because of lack of peaceful sleep and will have a very sluggish demeanor. Sleep apnea can be diagnosed in people when they participate in a sleep study. A sleep study is where people go to a sleep lab and sleep in the observation rooms. Wires are connected to the brain and body and there are cameras all around the bedroom. As you sleep there are medical personal that monitor your vital signs and you while you sleep.

Upon being diagnosed with sleep apnea some people are prescribed or given a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). This machine supply’s the user with continually flowing oxygen while the person sleeps to prevent the airway from closing as they rest. As a result, snoring that was present is now reduce thus giving the patient a good night sleep. Although this is long term treatment many users are annoyed by the machine (“Living with CPAP”). I have met patients in the hospital who had their machine with them but left it in their duffle bag because they refused to use it. It is rather a large mask that sits on your face with a hose attached from the mask to the machine. I imagine a person who sleeps very wildly may have some issues with the tubing of the machine with them moving around so much.

My father has a CPAP machine and he has been having comfortable sleep filled nights now that he has his machine. The machine does need to be care for in return for caring for the person using it. For example some machines take water and you must refill the container ever so often. Some parts may even need to be cleaned everyday or every other day (“Living with CPAP”). It just depends on what machine you receive. I believe this machine is one of the best machines created for medical use. Some people do not wake up during their sleep apnea episodes and have to be shaken awake from their sleep. People can now prevent other medical problems from occurring from lack of sleep. Couples can now have a better night sleep because one does not have to continually wake up every night to wake up the other.

 

 

"Living With CPAP." - NHLBI, NIH. U.S Department of Health and Human Services, 13 Dec. 2011. Web. 06 Feb. 2013.